Parallel Declines in Pollinators and Insect-Pollinated Plants in Britain and the Netherlands

Author
Biesmeijer J. C.
Roberts S. P. M.
Reemer M.
Ohlemüller Ralf
Edwards M.
Peeters T.
Schaffers A. P.
Potts S. G.
Kleukers R.
Thomas Chris D.
Settele Josef
Kunin William E.
Abstract

<p>Despite widespread concern about declines in pollination services, little is known about the patterns of change in most pollinator assemblages. By studying bee and hoverfly assemblages in Britain and the Netherlands, we found evidence of declines (pre-versus post-1980) in local bee diversity in both countries; however, divergent trends were observed in hoverflies. Depending on the assemblage and location, pollinator declines were most frequent in habitat and flower specialists, in univoltine species, and/or in nonmigrants. In conjunction with this evidence, outcrossing plant species that are reliant on the declining pollinators have themselves declined relative to other plant species. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest a causal connection between local extinctions of functionally linked plant and pollinator species.</p>

Year of Publication
2006
Journal
Science
Volume
313
Issue
5785
Number of Pages
351-354
Date Published
07/2006
ISBN Number
0036-8075, 1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.1127863
Short Title
Science
Scheme
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